‘Dogs rally in OT for 90-86 win

Toney Foster sank 9 points in overtime and Rodrick Trimont added 4 in the extra period to lift Navarro to a frantic 90-86 win over the Southwestern Christian Rams in a non-conference men’s basketball game Thursday night.

Navarro rallied from a five-point deficit (86-81) with 1:43 left to claim its third straight win of the season for first-year head coach Michael Landers. Southwestern Christian (2-2) had battled from an eight-point deficit (73-65) during regulation’s final 2:25, but suffered its second straight loss.

Navarro plays Tuesday at Waco against coach Kevin Gill’s McLennan Highlanders. The Highlanders were 3-0 heading into weekend play Friday against Jacksonville and God’s Academy at the Joe White Classic at Hill College in Hillsboro.

The Bulldogs trailed by 5 in overtime when Foster was fouled after hitting his only three-point basketball of the evening. The West Monroe, La., sophomore then sank the free-throw to complete a four-point play.

Moments after SwCC’s Daniel Mulamba missed two free throws, Trimont took an outlet pass and slashed in from the left side to produce the go-ahead basket with :58 remaining (87-86). Foster contributed three of four free throws inside the final :16 to nail down the victory.

Navarro shot 42.3% from the floor for the game (33 of 78) and got balanced scoring as three sophomores played for the first time this season: transfer Troy Jones, plus Jamar Goodwin and Duan Wright.

Jones led the way with 16 points, 5 rebounds and a blocked shot. Foster and DeShawn Robinson each pitched 15 while Trimont added 13.

Foster hit a team-best 8-of-9 free throws to account for the majority of his 15-point output.

Robinson turned in a third straight game of double-figure scoring, punctuated by 3-of-7 shooting beyond the perimeter. He also grabbed four rebounds, dished out two assists and deflected two passes.

Trimont’s 13 came from 6-of-12 shooting, and he added three rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Point guards Shannon Lilly and Kris Boleware also made big contributions. Each player scored 7 points. Lilly cleared four defensive boards, issued five assists, stole 4 passes and deflected three passes. Boleware handed out three assists, stole 4 passes and disrupted 4 other attempts.

SwCC held a 65-60 lead with 6:55 left in regulation behind the play of Trevor Matthews, Mulamba and Leroy Cox. The Bulldogs, however, went on an unanswered run of 13 points for a 73-65 lead with 2:25 to play, when the Rams formed a rally of their own.